Weaver's Bullets chasing 'arrival moment'

After eight seasons of missing post-season action, the Brisbane Bullets recently drew a line in the sand and hired highly-regarded coach Will Weaver as the man to take the organisation forward.

While Weaver, who will also be the club’s President of Basketball Operations, brings experience across the NBA, NBL, European and international levels, the former Boomers assistant coach explained the franchise are going to take a patient approach in rebuilding the Bullets.

“There’s a level of urgency you've got to have, but one thing I've learned building programs around the world and seeing some of the best do it, is that you can't rush it,” Weaver said on NBL Now.

“It'd be silly not to address the fact that the on-court product is a long way away from what everybody expects, including the people who were trying their best to make it improve.

“We're going to operate [in the model of] we're not just trying to build a team, we're trying to build a club. So there's delayed gratification to that approach.

“Sam Presti (Oklahoma City Thunder CEO) years ago said, ‘we don't want to make an appearance, we want to have an arrival.’

“That mirrors the mindset that our owners have and that the city of Brisbane has.

“Nobody talks about the last time Brisbane made it to a Finals Series; they talk about the championships [we’ve won].

“That's the mentality that we have, and that's the clear-mindedness that we're approaching every conversation we’re having with the talented people who are excited to come play and live in Brisbane.”

Some of those talented people Weaver alludes to include the returning core of Tyrell Harrison, Jacob Holt, Taine Murray, Mitch Norton and Sam McDaniel.

“It's remarkable that there is some continuity, as we've had guys on this team for several years now,” he said.

“Tyrell is a specimen who’s proven he can be an interior presence and somebody that I believe absolutely has his best basketball still ahead of him,” Weaver said.

“Jacob was a revelation [last season], especially playing the way he did coming off the injury that he had. You could see in every game [he played] his sharp upward trajectory; [honestly] the sky’s the limit for him.

“Taine is kicking arse in the NZNBL right now, while Norto is the most professional guy on Earth.

“[Finally] Sammy, we felt great about retaining him and helping him get back to being a Defensive Player of the Year candidate.”

Mixed in with that returning core are signings Harry Rouhliadeff and Lat Mayen, with the latter working with Weaver in his last stint in the NBL with Sydney.

“Lat is a young man that I have been a fan of for a while,” he said.

“I brought him to his first NBL training camp years back and believe his versatility and potential are sky high.

“I believe that where he’s played the past several seasons have been circumstances that have prevented him from reaching that potential, and I know he’s hungry to prove that.

“I’m confident we’re going to give him the right opportunity to unlock his game.”

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While believing Brisbane is the best place for all those players to shine, Weaver is confident he’s grown as a coach since guiding the Kings to the NBL20 Championship Series.

“We [my family and I] love the NBL and Australia,” he said.

“It's the most special place I've ever lived, and it's the sporting culture that I want my son to grow up in.

“The gift that Brett Brown gave me years ago by introducing me to Andrej Lemanis and letting me experience what mateship is all about and how Australia separates itself is one that I'll never be able to repay.

“I certainly wasn't going to miss the opportunity to strike when there was the right situation, and I think it’s this one [with Brisbane].

“[As a coach] I certainly feel like I've improved, thanks to my time in Europe, the G-League and with the Boomers.

“They all taught me a lot and reinforced some beliefs while challenging some too.

“With my problem-solver approach, I’m aiming to be flexible and work with players’ clear strengths, while creating an environment where their weaknesses are mitigated.”

Rounding out the the Bullets' core for next season is young gun Tristan Devers.

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